Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here on Monday that the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir had been “strictly instructed” to respect citizens’ human rights.
“I’m aware of some complaints related to human rights. The government’s policy is to protect human rights even when dealing with terrorism,” he said, adding: “The security forces have been strictly instructed to respect the rights of civilians. We will act to remove any deficiency in implementation.”
Beginning a two-day visit while the state is simmering over the killing of three Kashmiri youths in a staged encounter, Dr Manmohan Singh was greeted with a shutdown called by separatists.
Reiterating his offer of talks with separatists, he said: “We wish to carry forward the process of dialogue (and) ... are ready to hold talks with the representative of any group which shuns violence and terror.”